HefeWeizen | Live Oak Brewing Company

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Notes / Commercial Description:
Modeled after the classic wheat beers of Bavaria, Hefeweizen is cloudy and straw-colored with a meringue-like head that lingers to the bottom of the glass. Brewed with an ample volume of wheat malt and few hops, this beer features a unique yeast strain that produces harmonious notes of clove, banana, and vanilla throughout this effervescent brew. A traditional interpretation of a classic style, this idiosyncratic Bavarian beer is perfectly at home here in Texas.

More User Reviews:

5/5 rDev +14.9%look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perfect example of the style and the best American Hefeweizen. Possibly the best American take on a German style period. Aromatic and perfectly balanced banana and clove notes. I routinely make a 4 hour trek to Texas just to have this on tap.

L-bright yellow, small thin head
S-wheat, banana, cloves
T-zesty lemon, wheat, bready banana
F-drinkable but heavier
O-i don't love this style but since it's so well done for it's style, I upped the ratings to be more relative. Best in class for sure and I would enjoy this again if available, but i just don't can't get to love this style

Mouthfeel: Light bodied beer with moderate carbonation. The drinkablility is off the charts. Creamy carbonation and a light snappy finish. Very refreshing.

Overall: Hefeweizen is a beer style that I have only found New Glarus to brew well and I really haven't found many Hefeweizen's that are truly spectacular. This beer has really high scores and I honestly did not think that it would be as good as the ratings say it is. Well, I am here to say that this is the best Hefeweizen that is brewed in the USA. This exceeded expectations and has me wanting to get another growler of this Live Oak beer. The fact that the banana and clove are extremely well balanced and completely dialed in are what makes the beer shine. I have always homered on New Glarus Hefeweizen's and this beer is clearly far superior to all of the New Glarus Hefeweizens.

Pours a slightly hazy golden-darker yellow body, two finger white head, good retention, medium collar, not much lacing. Smells of bubble gum, clove, banana esters, wheat, light caramel, grainy sweetness. Smells like a sharp hefeweizen, not as well rounded as some of its best German counterparts, but it's unmistakably an hefe. Flavour is fairly authentic hefeweizen; dominant banana esters, clove, touch of bubble gum, grainy wheat, light grassy bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and almost a tad bit creamy, good carbonation, super easy to drink. Overall, a very good hefeweizen; it's sort of like a more balanced version of most American hefeweizens which tend to be hopped up. This is balanced and seems to taste more authentic although I am not doing this blind with Weihenstephaner or Franziskaner, of course. That may be an experiment to do later on.

On tap at the Draught House in Austin, TX in a nonic glass and at the Alamo Draft House on Lamar in several pint glasses.

Pours a hazed yellow cake color, on the lighter side of many hefes with a healthy white head that comes in just a touch too light and bubbly for me. I like the head on my Hefes a little more sticky, then again, this could be the result of poor glass choice at both locations I drank this.

Aroma is fresh and clean but lighter than I would like. Banana notes are moderate but spice notes, particularly cloves, are very light. A more generic fruity yeastiness is more pronounce.

Taste is also on the light side flavor wise. Banana and touches of spice mixed with a general breadiness.

Mouthfeel: Light, clean, fresh, crisp (I know that is weird in a Hefe but this one is), and airy.

Drinkability: Out of the ballpark. This beer has absolutely no negative traits, no off-flavors, no adjuncts. It is remarkably clean an refined, especially for an American brewery. Add those qualities to its refreshingly light body and you have a real winner in this category. This is an ideal sometime session beer.

Overall, I am mildly disappointed in Live Oak Hefe for a couple of reasons. Naturally, I have held this beer on a high pedestal, perhaps higher than I ought to have, since I have sought it out for so long. Still, I can't help but find this beer a touch dull . It's a great beer, and certainly an A but it's no A+ in my book and doesn't quite hold water when placed side-by-side a few other American Hefes like Dancing Man Wheat from New Glarus. Excellent but not quite all it's hyped up to be.

Sort of a hazy lemon juice yellow color with a thick white head that's not afraid to hang out a while.

Slightly musty, phenolic cloves, banana, and a touch of lemon and bubblegum.

The taste is that of a classic German hefe. Fresh ripe banana pudding with a hint of nilla wafer. Light spice and bubblegum as it warms. Not particularly engaging, but without flaws at the same time. It can grow on you though, as it's very smooth and creamy. Making it pretty fun to drink and a solid session beer. Tasted next to the Weihenstephaner they are very similar. For that reason I wouldn't go out of my way to get it, but I am glad I got to try it. There are some random thoughts for ya.

Poured a hazy golden with a nice white head on top. The smell on this very nice-very citrus and spice but has a little medicianl quality to it. Taste is very spcy with the cloves hitting you upfront and the banan and bubble gum flavors coming strong after the spice. Finishes clean with more spice flavor and lemon like citrus. Feels very full in the mouth-not as thin as other hefeweizens. So drinkable especially on a hot Texas day.

I've had this beer many times as I live in Austin. I feel lucky to have it so available it. Going to the Live Oak brewery is a good time as Chip the owner/brewer feels very strongly about traditional flavors especially in his hefe. Great beer and great brewery!

Finally got a growler of this one as I've been dying to try it for awhile. Pours into my glass a hazy sunshine/straw yellow that's quite vibrant. A big inch head of creamy meringue white foam sticks to the top and has great staying power with sticky sheets of lacing as it slowly falls. Aromas begin with crisp wheat malt notes that are immediately engulfed in yeasty esters. Huge banana and clove lead the way with a spicy undertone and hints of bubblegum as well. Bold and fresh, the aroma is intoxicating. The yeast esters explode out of the glass...I can't find a thing wrong with this aroma :-)

First sip brings a smooth, crisp wheat malt upfront that leads into flavors of banana and clove. More light fruity notes move in along with a peppery spice. As it moves down the bubblegum comes out along with a touch of lemon zest and vanilla as well. There's a nice overall sweetness, but it is well placed. It finishes with a smooth yeasty kick that leaves a banana/spice aftertaste. Crisp with an enchanting flavor profile, I can't find any flaws in this brew. One of the best hefeweizens I've sampled without a doubt.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a smooth creaminess imparted by the malt. Flows down with carbonation that is more towards the mellow side. This brew is extremely drinkable and makes for quite a session beer. Those of you who have regular access to this beer should consider yourselves very lucky, as this is the best American brewed hefeweizen I have ever tasted. Cheers to Live Oak for creating a brew that rivals its German counterparts and many thanks to JDV for supplying me with this tasty treat that I hope to have again.